Dallas CASA honored The Meadows Foundation with the prestigious Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award at the Champion of Children Award Dinner on Nov. 15 at The Fairmont Dallas. The award is given annually to recognize community leaders who significantly improve the lives of children in our community, particularly those whose young lives have been marked by abuse, neglect or other adversity. The award is named for Judge Barefoot Sanders, a revered United States District Court judge, past award recipient and a steadfast supporter of Dallas CASA.

The Meadows Foundation

Established 70 years ago by Algur H. and Virginia Meadows and led by three generations of Meadows family members, The Meadows Foundation has transformed institutions and non-profits across the state, believing that all Texans deserve the opportunity to live happy, healthy, productive lives.

Through grant support of Dallas CASA dating back 20 years, the foundation has directly impacted the lives of thousands of children who had caring, constant adults by their sides as they navigated a frightening and overwhelmed child welfare system. The foundation, under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Linda Perryman Evans, has supported CASA programs across the state, as well as many other nonprofits focused on early childhood education, health services for children and strengthening families.

Josh Shipp

This year’s guest speaker was Josh Shipp, a former at-risk foster youth, now a recognized teen expert and youth advocate. He is renowned for his TV documentary series on A&E and best-selling books about his ground-breaking work with teens. Josh had a challenging childhood and bounced around in many different foster homes, until he had a handful of caring adults reach out to him. He now strives to pass that knowledge on and be that caring adult for kids like him. Josh says, “Every kid is ONE caring adult away from being a success story.” His childhood experience and now work as a youth advocate illustrate the impact a constant like a CASA volunteer can have in a child’s life.

To learn more about the 2019 Champion of Children Award Dinner or underwriting opportunities, please contact Michelle Mai, 469-547-9456 or email.

Champion of Children past honorees:

2017

Junior League of Dallas

2006

Archon Group, L.P.

2016

NorthPark Center

2005

Todd Wagner

2015

AT&T and its employees

2004

The Hon. Thomas R. Phillips

2014

Pioneer Natural Resources and its employees

2003

The Hon. Harold “Barefoot” Sanders

2013

Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones

2002

J. McDonald “Don” Williams

2012

ExxonMobil and its employees and retirees

2001

Tom Luce

2011

Southwest Airlines

2000

Paul Coggins

2010

Nancy A. Nasher

1999

The Hon. Florence Shapiro

2009

The Hon. Harriet O’Neill

1998

The Hon. Lee F. Jackson

2008

The Hoglund Foundation

We are grateful to our 2018 Champion of Children Award Dinner underwriters: